Helvetic Republic

The Helvetic Republic was a client state of France that existed from 1798 to 1803, with Aarau serving as its capital. The French invaded Switzerland on 5 March 1798 with the goal of ending feudalism in the country during the French Revolutionary Wars; the French-speakers of Vaud invited the French Republic to do so. On 12 April 1798, 121 cantonal deputies proclaimed the Helvetic Republic, and the new regime abolished cantonal sovereignty and feudal rights. The Helvetic Republic was a centralized state built on the ideals of the French Revolution, but most Swiss citizens resisted the progressive ideas. This led to political instability and numerous rebellions, ultimately resulting in the restoration of the confederation in 1803.